AN: (chuckles) Many a thanks to my fellow writers for their reviews and comments on AIM, and also for pointing out how much I suck at grammer! I'm still struggling to write a decent story here for you all to enjoy!
(scratches head) By the way, how did I get my own announcers for upcoming chapters...?
As always, Love Hina and its characters belong to Ken Akamatsu. Original characters belong to me and may be used with permission.
Bloodstained Heritage
Chapter 5: Infiltrate
"...I see." Kanako raised an eyebrow at the two women. "I see you've both met my Big brother Keitaro from before. He will be your landlord should you choose to stay here at the Hinata-Sou."
"Landlord, hmm?" the woman in the oriental dress grinned in a manner much alike Kitsune. "Of a girl's dorm, no less... Sounds kinky..." The comment made Keitaro crash to the ground, before he recovered and tried to defend himself, all while Naru and Motoko contemplated the woman's words.
"Of course we'd be interested." The businesswoman smiled at Kanako. "I assume you are the assistant landlord, then?"
"Accountant, to be precise." The dark haired woman replied, then shook her head at seeing Keitaro being teased by both Kitsune and the businesswoman's sister. "I will be taking down all of your information for our guest registry, and will need a month's rent up front." The businesswoman readily agreed, and followed Kanako inside. Keitaro watched until his sister lead the two visitiors away, then jumped as he heard Naru and Motoko both growl at him.
"Wait, I didn't do anything!" Keitaro exclaimed.
"You pervert!" Naru screamed, uppercuting the landlord through the air to land on the second story balcony. "Your first day on the job, and you're already trying to take advantage of the newcomers!"
Motoko shook her head as Tsuruko walked up to her, accompaning Granny Hina. "I take back any praise I had for Urashima, sister." The younger swordswoman frowned. "He's the same as all men, loathsome and perverted."
"If that is what you believe, Motoko." Tsuruko chuckled, then looked back towards the dorm. "I sensed no spirits or evil intents in the visitors, so I shall escort Granny Hina to the airport." She then bowed to her younger sibling, who returned the gesture. "Please keep me informed if anything should happen, and I shall speak to the council regarding this matter." Nodding, Motoko and the other tenants watched the two depart, then went back inside to meet the new tenants-to-be...
"...Alright, looks like everything is in order..." Kanako nodded in approval as she filled out the necessary paperwork with the twin sisters, while the other tenants watched on. "...And I will just need both your names, then."
"Oh, I haven't introduced ourselves, my apoligies!" The businesswoman smiled. "My name is Rei, my sister..." The two looked over to see the woman in the oriental dress was still teasing poor Keitaro. "...Who seems to be getting along quite well with your brother, is Naomi." Kanako narrowed her eyes as she saw Naru punch the landlord out of the room, and vowed to have a talk with the Toudai aspirant later on.
"Family name?" Kanako asked as she jotted down the information, then looked up to notice a hesitant look on the businesswoman's face.
"Um... Giovanni." Rei replied quietly, and immediately winced as the room suddenly became quiet, as all the tenants now stared at the businesswoman and her sister. "Hoo boy, here it comes..." The businesswoman sighed.
"Giovanni? As in the Giovanni fashion line?!" Kitsune's eyes, which were usually in nearly closed slits, were wide open in surprise. "I knew you two looked familiar!"
"I heard you make billions of American dollars yearly with all the wardrobe you design for movie stars!" Naru gaped as well. "You even have your own magazine!"
"Wow..." Shinobu blinked. "So which one of you is the model that we always see in the magazine?"
"That would be me." Naomi replied with a smile. "Although my sister has been kind enough to substitute for me when I'm too tired to go on stage." She then sat on the armrest beside her sister. "Rei is usually the head designer and paperwork mule for our company." This made the businesswoman stick a tongue out at her sister, and made everyone else laugh.
"Interesting." Motoko nodded. "So why did you choose to come here? I would imagine that the accomodations in the city would be more of what you must be used to..."
"That's very true." Rei replied. "But there's only so much of it you can take, before you're dying for a simple living style again..." She then smiled at the group. "Besides, this helps us hide from the annoying press and fans..." The tenants chuckled in understanding, as she stretched and looked around. "So, which room will we get?"
"I believe there's a room available next to Kaolla's..." Kanako said as she filed the paperwork away. "She can show you two to your room."
"Yay!" Kaolla laughed, and the two new tenants raised their eyebrows at seeing the energetic foreigner bounce around them. "More people to play with!"
"By the way..." Naomi looked at the group. "Is there anyone here who could give my sister and I a general tour of the city? We haven't really gotten a chance to explore around yet..." The tenants looked and whispered to one another, before everyone turned to see Keitaro walking back in, nursing a bump on his head from Naru's punch...
"Now what'd I do...?" Keitaro asked with a defeated look, seeing all the women's eyes on him.
"...I do have to agree that black and white gives a professional appearence, but I prefer blue myself." Rei commented, now wearing a simple polo and loose jeans to be more relaxed and not draw attention from the public. Kanako nodded in understanding, as the normally dark and silent Urashima sibling seemed to open up more to Rei with their common views in business and fashion. However, she still narrowed her eyes at seeing the businesswoman's sister, who was holding onto Keitaro's arm and walking in front of them...
"For being a countryside town, this marketplace seems to lively!" Naomi giggled, now wearing a tight white T-shirt which she tied up, which along with her tight jean shorts, had revealed quite a bit of skin and causing much of the male public to stare in amazement. Keitaro merely chuckled nervously, busy struggling not to die from a nosebleed from the sight of Naomi's choice of clothing, as well as dodging the death glares of single men who saw them.
"Ooh! Let's check that store out!" Rei pointed, and as Keitaro follwed her slender finger, his nose finally exploded in a geyser of blood at seeing a lingerie store. The two new tenants merely giggled at the landlord, then walked into the store as his sister helped him back to his feet.
"Thanks, sis." Keitaro smiled, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "What say we go and get something cold to drink while we wait for them?" Kanako readily agreed, happy to have time alone with the one person she cared for the most. She smiled with a faint blush as Keitaro put a hand around her shoulder, and the two walked into a nearby juice bar. Having received their drinks, the two were on their way out when a voice stopped them...
"Ah, the Urashimas, fancy meeting you both here today..."
Confused, the two turned to notice a businessman at a table smiling at the two. His long blond hair was slicked back into a tail, and his crystal blue eyes shone with equal amounts of cheer and deadliness. His outfit consisted of a white dress shirt, with a black vest and matching pants. A laptop computer was on the table in front of him, displaying what appeared to be stock quotes. Though Keitaro looked confused, Kanako instantly narrowed her eyes at seeing the businessman.
"Marik..." The younger Urashima growled in hatred, surprising her brother. "Name a good reason why I shouldn't snap your neck right here, right now..."
"Easy, and I'll even give you two." The businessman smiled, brushing off her threats like nothing. "First, the public will just love the headlines that an innocent businessman was killed by a teenaged girl for no reason..." He smiled even more at seeing her anger build. "...And second, you'll both join me at the table for a chat. I do love a conversation while I'm on break."
"And if we refuse?"
"Then the lingerie store your friends went into will somehow explode under mysterious circumstances..." Marik smiled, causing the siblings to flinch at the threat. "So what shall it be? Should I give the order now?" Knowing full well that he wasn't bluffing, Kanako sat at the table across from him, with Keitaro sitting beside her.
"What do you want, Marik?" Kanako asked angrily. "Leave everyone else out of this, if it's me you want."
"On the contrary, little one." Marik took a sip of his drink, then smiled at the two. "The Syndicate has taken quite an interest in your brother instead." Keitaro shuddered as he finally recognized the voice of the attacker who stood beside Tsunari from the night before. "We're interested in negotiating, of course." The businessman spoke to the landlord. "Whether you and your friends remain alive afterwards is up to you..."
Concerned for the well being of his sister as well as the tenants of the dorm, Keitaro began to speak, but was cut off by Kanako. "No deal." The younger sibling stood, glaring down at the businessman. "Come if you want, but you won't find us being easy pushovers..." She then narrowed her eyes. "...Because I will kill anyone who tries to harm my brother."
"Of course..." Marik smiled, raising his drink as if to toast them. "I'll be sure to inform the chairman." With a final glare of hatred, Kanako turned and left, taking her brother along. After watching the two leave, the businessman merely chuckled, before packing up his laptop and walked out calmly. He watched the four from the Hinata-Sou walk a good distance away before snapping his fingers nonchalantly, and the group turned in surprise as the lingerie store suddenly exploded. Seething in anger at the damage inflicted, Kanako watched as Marik merely winked with a grin at her, then disappeared in the confusion following the destruction...
Dinner came and went about as normal as they come at the Hinata-Sou, with the resident master chef Shinobu cooking up a feast to welcome the new tenants' arrival as well as to celebrate Keitaro's promotion to landlord. No amount of praise could do justice to Shinobu's cooking skills, though everyone complimented her nontheless, and she took pride when Rei commented that her cooking far exceeded any five star restaurant she's gone to.
Afterwards, most of the tenants retreated to their respective rooms for their own activities and prepare for the next day. Keitaro, however, sat quietly on the roof by himself. He was enjoying the tranquility of the night, as no one disturbed his star gazing, allowing him to think in peace. His solitude was to be short lived, as he felt quiet footsteps approaching behind him. Before he could turn however, a pair of slender arms wrapped around his shoulders, causing him to blink in surprise.
"You'll catch a cold out here, Big brother..." Kanako whispered in his ear, as Keitaro relaxed at recognizing her voice. "You should come inside..."
"I'll be fine, sis..." Keitaro smiled, as Kanako rested her head on his shoulder. No words were exchanged as the two watched the stars in silence for a long moment, until Keitaro turned to her slightly. "Kanako...?" The younger Urashima blinked at her brother. "...How is it that you seem to know that man who attacked us the other night...?"
Sighing, Kanako looked away from her brother. "It's something in the past that I regretted..." She then turned back to look at him. "I promise to tell you someday, but just not today, okay...?" Nodding, Keitaro kissed her softly on her forehead, and held her close. As he stroked her hair, he noticed that their shadows being cast from the moon seemed to grow larger, and looked up above him to see a frightening sight...
"Look out!" Keitaro exclaimed, diving to one side with his sister as the spot where they were exploded in a shower of roof tiles and dust. As the landlord shakily helped Kanako to her feet, the two looked over in surprise at seeing Motoko kneeling at the point of impact, her sword imbedded deep into the woodwork. As the swordswoman turned to face Keitaro, he flinched at seeing the anger burning in her eyes.
"Face me, Urashima!" Motoko growled, pulling her sword free and leveling it at the landlord. "I will not sit by and watch my friends be endangered because of you!" She then leapt high towards him, sword positioned to kill. "Prove to me that you can defend the dorm, or I'll save those demons the trouble of killing you!" With a startled cry, Keitaro pushed his sister out of harm's way as he leapt backwards, but the force of impact still flung him back several feet.
"Motoko, stop!" Keitaro scrambled to his feet, and barely leapt aside to dodge a wave of destructive energy which ripped up even more roof tiles. "I didn't want to bring any of you into this, but I have no say in it now!" He yelped as he dodged yet another wave of energy. "We have a common enemy, we shouldn't be fighting each other!" His eyes bugged out as he realized that he could not dodge in time, as another wave of energy blasted him clear off the roof onto the balcony below.
"I knew I shouldn't have trusted you!" Motoko roared, leaping off the roof and narrowly missing her strike as the landlord rolled out of the way. "You're just like all the other men, perverted and gutless!" By now, all the other tenants had arrived on scene, and watched in shock as the angered swordswoman repeatedly attack Keitaro, who struggled to dodge the swings. "Have you no shame? You would've probably taken advantage of your sister had I not come looking for you!"
Something in Keitaro's mind finally snapped at Motoko's last remark, and he settled into a swordsman's stance. The following few seconds would be burnt into Motoko's memory for the rest of her life, as with a blur of motion he had ended up with his back turned towards her. Blinking in surprise, the swordswoman looked down to see that her own gi, as well as her chest bindings underneath, were cut through from her shoulder to hip. Everyone then stared at the landlord, and noticed that he held something that wasn't in his hands mere moments before...
A black katana, its obsidian black surface gleaming in the moonlight.
"An iaijutsu fast draw..." Motoko gaped in surprise, though not a scratch was on her, she clasped her gi close with one hand. "How...?"
Sighing, the landlord sheathed his blade and turned to the swordswoman. He then surprised everyone present by bowing and apoligizing to Motoko, even when everyone could tell he was not at fault. With a depressed look, Keitaro excused himself and announced that he was retiring for the night, with everyone else following suit short after, until only the two new tenants was left on the balcony.
"Well?" Naomi asked.
"The little struggle provided an excellent opportunity for me to see into their minds..." Rei smiled. "I doubt I would have been able to catch the sword girl off guard normally, but she happens to be the easiest of them to dispose of..." She then grinned evily, her brown eyes flashing a golden hue for a brief second. "They shall pose no problem for us, dear sister. Especially with the blood moon approaching in a few days..."
"Of course." Naomi nodded, her eyes also flashing a golden hue as she gazed at the moon. "No one escapes the Syndicate..."
Like? No like? Please review!
Stay tuned, more along the way!
(scratches head) By the way, how did I get my own announcers for upcoming chapters...?
As always, Love Hina and its characters belong to Ken Akamatsu. Original characters belong to me and may be used with permission.
Bloodstained Heritage
Chapter 5: Infiltrate
"...I see." Kanako raised an eyebrow at the two women. "I see you've both met my Big brother Keitaro from before. He will be your landlord should you choose to stay here at the Hinata-Sou."
"Landlord, hmm?" the woman in the oriental dress grinned in a manner much alike Kitsune. "Of a girl's dorm, no less... Sounds kinky..." The comment made Keitaro crash to the ground, before he recovered and tried to defend himself, all while Naru and Motoko contemplated the woman's words.
"Of course we'd be interested." The businesswoman smiled at Kanako. "I assume you are the assistant landlord, then?"
"Accountant, to be precise." The dark haired woman replied, then shook her head at seeing Keitaro being teased by both Kitsune and the businesswoman's sister. "I will be taking down all of your information for our guest registry, and will need a month's rent up front." The businesswoman readily agreed, and followed Kanako inside. Keitaro watched until his sister lead the two visitiors away, then jumped as he heard Naru and Motoko both growl at him.
"Wait, I didn't do anything!" Keitaro exclaimed.
"You pervert!" Naru screamed, uppercuting the landlord through the air to land on the second story balcony. "Your first day on the job, and you're already trying to take advantage of the newcomers!"
Motoko shook her head as Tsuruko walked up to her, accompaning Granny Hina. "I take back any praise I had for Urashima, sister." The younger swordswoman frowned. "He's the same as all men, loathsome and perverted."
"If that is what you believe, Motoko." Tsuruko chuckled, then looked back towards the dorm. "I sensed no spirits or evil intents in the visitors, so I shall escort Granny Hina to the airport." She then bowed to her younger sibling, who returned the gesture. "Please keep me informed if anything should happen, and I shall speak to the council regarding this matter." Nodding, Motoko and the other tenants watched the two depart, then went back inside to meet the new tenants-to-be...
"...Alright, looks like everything is in order..." Kanako nodded in approval as she filled out the necessary paperwork with the twin sisters, while the other tenants watched on. "...And I will just need both your names, then."
"Oh, I haven't introduced ourselves, my apoligies!" The businesswoman smiled. "My name is Rei, my sister..." The two looked over to see the woman in the oriental dress was still teasing poor Keitaro. "...Who seems to be getting along quite well with your brother, is Naomi." Kanako narrowed her eyes as she saw Naru punch the landlord out of the room, and vowed to have a talk with the Toudai aspirant later on.
"Family name?" Kanako asked as she jotted down the information, then looked up to notice a hesitant look on the businesswoman's face.
"Um... Giovanni." Rei replied quietly, and immediately winced as the room suddenly became quiet, as all the tenants now stared at the businesswoman and her sister. "Hoo boy, here it comes..." The businesswoman sighed.
"Giovanni? As in the Giovanni fashion line?!" Kitsune's eyes, which were usually in nearly closed slits, were wide open in surprise. "I knew you two looked familiar!"
"I heard you make billions of American dollars yearly with all the wardrobe you design for movie stars!" Naru gaped as well. "You even have your own magazine!"
"Wow..." Shinobu blinked. "So which one of you is the model that we always see in the magazine?"
"That would be me." Naomi replied with a smile. "Although my sister has been kind enough to substitute for me when I'm too tired to go on stage." She then sat on the armrest beside her sister. "Rei is usually the head designer and paperwork mule for our company." This made the businesswoman stick a tongue out at her sister, and made everyone else laugh.
"Interesting." Motoko nodded. "So why did you choose to come here? I would imagine that the accomodations in the city would be more of what you must be used to..."
"That's very true." Rei replied. "But there's only so much of it you can take, before you're dying for a simple living style again..." She then smiled at the group. "Besides, this helps us hide from the annoying press and fans..." The tenants chuckled in understanding, as she stretched and looked around. "So, which room will we get?"
"I believe there's a room available next to Kaolla's..." Kanako said as she filed the paperwork away. "She can show you two to your room."
"Yay!" Kaolla laughed, and the two new tenants raised their eyebrows at seeing the energetic foreigner bounce around them. "More people to play with!"
"By the way..." Naomi looked at the group. "Is there anyone here who could give my sister and I a general tour of the city? We haven't really gotten a chance to explore around yet..." The tenants looked and whispered to one another, before everyone turned to see Keitaro walking back in, nursing a bump on his head from Naru's punch...
"Now what'd I do...?" Keitaro asked with a defeated look, seeing all the women's eyes on him.
"...I do have to agree that black and white gives a professional appearence, but I prefer blue myself." Rei commented, now wearing a simple polo and loose jeans to be more relaxed and not draw attention from the public. Kanako nodded in understanding, as the normally dark and silent Urashima sibling seemed to open up more to Rei with their common views in business and fashion. However, she still narrowed her eyes at seeing the businesswoman's sister, who was holding onto Keitaro's arm and walking in front of them...
"For being a countryside town, this marketplace seems to lively!" Naomi giggled, now wearing a tight white T-shirt which she tied up, which along with her tight jean shorts, had revealed quite a bit of skin and causing much of the male public to stare in amazement. Keitaro merely chuckled nervously, busy struggling not to die from a nosebleed from the sight of Naomi's choice of clothing, as well as dodging the death glares of single men who saw them.
"Ooh! Let's check that store out!" Rei pointed, and as Keitaro follwed her slender finger, his nose finally exploded in a geyser of blood at seeing a lingerie store. The two new tenants merely giggled at the landlord, then walked into the store as his sister helped him back to his feet.
"Thanks, sis." Keitaro smiled, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "What say we go and get something cold to drink while we wait for them?" Kanako readily agreed, happy to have time alone with the one person she cared for the most. She smiled with a faint blush as Keitaro put a hand around her shoulder, and the two walked into a nearby juice bar. Having received their drinks, the two were on their way out when a voice stopped them...
"Ah, the Urashimas, fancy meeting you both here today..."
Confused, the two turned to notice a businessman at a table smiling at the two. His long blond hair was slicked back into a tail, and his crystal blue eyes shone with equal amounts of cheer and deadliness. His outfit consisted of a white dress shirt, with a black vest and matching pants. A laptop computer was on the table in front of him, displaying what appeared to be stock quotes. Though Keitaro looked confused, Kanako instantly narrowed her eyes at seeing the businessman.
"Marik..." The younger Urashima growled in hatred, surprising her brother. "Name a good reason why I shouldn't snap your neck right here, right now..."
"Easy, and I'll even give you two." The businessman smiled, brushing off her threats like nothing. "First, the public will just love the headlines that an innocent businessman was killed by a teenaged girl for no reason..." He smiled even more at seeing her anger build. "...And second, you'll both join me at the table for a chat. I do love a conversation while I'm on break."
"And if we refuse?"
"Then the lingerie store your friends went into will somehow explode under mysterious circumstances..." Marik smiled, causing the siblings to flinch at the threat. "So what shall it be? Should I give the order now?" Knowing full well that he wasn't bluffing, Kanako sat at the table across from him, with Keitaro sitting beside her.
"What do you want, Marik?" Kanako asked angrily. "Leave everyone else out of this, if it's me you want."
"On the contrary, little one." Marik took a sip of his drink, then smiled at the two. "The Syndicate has taken quite an interest in your brother instead." Keitaro shuddered as he finally recognized the voice of the attacker who stood beside Tsunari from the night before. "We're interested in negotiating, of course." The businessman spoke to the landlord. "Whether you and your friends remain alive afterwards is up to you..."
Concerned for the well being of his sister as well as the tenants of the dorm, Keitaro began to speak, but was cut off by Kanako. "No deal." The younger sibling stood, glaring down at the businessman. "Come if you want, but you won't find us being easy pushovers..." She then narrowed her eyes. "...Because I will kill anyone who tries to harm my brother."
"Of course..." Marik smiled, raising his drink as if to toast them. "I'll be sure to inform the chairman." With a final glare of hatred, Kanako turned and left, taking her brother along. After watching the two leave, the businessman merely chuckled, before packing up his laptop and walked out calmly. He watched the four from the Hinata-Sou walk a good distance away before snapping his fingers nonchalantly, and the group turned in surprise as the lingerie store suddenly exploded. Seething in anger at the damage inflicted, Kanako watched as Marik merely winked with a grin at her, then disappeared in the confusion following the destruction...
Dinner came and went about as normal as they come at the Hinata-Sou, with the resident master chef Shinobu cooking up a feast to welcome the new tenants' arrival as well as to celebrate Keitaro's promotion to landlord. No amount of praise could do justice to Shinobu's cooking skills, though everyone complimented her nontheless, and she took pride when Rei commented that her cooking far exceeded any five star restaurant she's gone to.
Afterwards, most of the tenants retreated to their respective rooms for their own activities and prepare for the next day. Keitaro, however, sat quietly on the roof by himself. He was enjoying the tranquility of the night, as no one disturbed his star gazing, allowing him to think in peace. His solitude was to be short lived, as he felt quiet footsteps approaching behind him. Before he could turn however, a pair of slender arms wrapped around his shoulders, causing him to blink in surprise.
"You'll catch a cold out here, Big brother..." Kanako whispered in his ear, as Keitaro relaxed at recognizing her voice. "You should come inside..."
"I'll be fine, sis..." Keitaro smiled, as Kanako rested her head on his shoulder. No words were exchanged as the two watched the stars in silence for a long moment, until Keitaro turned to her slightly. "Kanako...?" The younger Urashima blinked at her brother. "...How is it that you seem to know that man who attacked us the other night...?"
Sighing, Kanako looked away from her brother. "It's something in the past that I regretted..." She then turned back to look at him. "I promise to tell you someday, but just not today, okay...?" Nodding, Keitaro kissed her softly on her forehead, and held her close. As he stroked her hair, he noticed that their shadows being cast from the moon seemed to grow larger, and looked up above him to see a frightening sight...
"Look out!" Keitaro exclaimed, diving to one side with his sister as the spot where they were exploded in a shower of roof tiles and dust. As the landlord shakily helped Kanako to her feet, the two looked over in surprise at seeing Motoko kneeling at the point of impact, her sword imbedded deep into the woodwork. As the swordswoman turned to face Keitaro, he flinched at seeing the anger burning in her eyes.
"Face me, Urashima!" Motoko growled, pulling her sword free and leveling it at the landlord. "I will not sit by and watch my friends be endangered because of you!" She then leapt high towards him, sword positioned to kill. "Prove to me that you can defend the dorm, or I'll save those demons the trouble of killing you!" With a startled cry, Keitaro pushed his sister out of harm's way as he leapt backwards, but the force of impact still flung him back several feet.
"Motoko, stop!" Keitaro scrambled to his feet, and barely leapt aside to dodge a wave of destructive energy which ripped up even more roof tiles. "I didn't want to bring any of you into this, but I have no say in it now!" He yelped as he dodged yet another wave of energy. "We have a common enemy, we shouldn't be fighting each other!" His eyes bugged out as he realized that he could not dodge in time, as another wave of energy blasted him clear off the roof onto the balcony below.
"I knew I shouldn't have trusted you!" Motoko roared, leaping off the roof and narrowly missing her strike as the landlord rolled out of the way. "You're just like all the other men, perverted and gutless!" By now, all the other tenants had arrived on scene, and watched in shock as the angered swordswoman repeatedly attack Keitaro, who struggled to dodge the swings. "Have you no shame? You would've probably taken advantage of your sister had I not come looking for you!"
Something in Keitaro's mind finally snapped at Motoko's last remark, and he settled into a swordsman's stance. The following few seconds would be burnt into Motoko's memory for the rest of her life, as with a blur of motion he had ended up with his back turned towards her. Blinking in surprise, the swordswoman looked down to see that her own gi, as well as her chest bindings underneath, were cut through from her shoulder to hip. Everyone then stared at the landlord, and noticed that he held something that wasn't in his hands mere moments before...
A black katana, its obsidian black surface gleaming in the moonlight.
"An iaijutsu fast draw..." Motoko gaped in surprise, though not a scratch was on her, she clasped her gi close with one hand. "How...?"
Sighing, the landlord sheathed his blade and turned to the swordswoman. He then surprised everyone present by bowing and apoligizing to Motoko, even when everyone could tell he was not at fault. With a depressed look, Keitaro excused himself and announced that he was retiring for the night, with everyone else following suit short after, until only the two new tenants was left on the balcony.
"Well?" Naomi asked.
"The little struggle provided an excellent opportunity for me to see into their minds..." Rei smiled. "I doubt I would have been able to catch the sword girl off guard normally, but she happens to be the easiest of them to dispose of..." She then grinned evily, her brown eyes flashing a golden hue for a brief second. "They shall pose no problem for us, dear sister. Especially with the blood moon approaching in a few days..."
"Of course." Naomi nodded, her eyes also flashing a golden hue as she gazed at the moon. "No one escapes the Syndicate..."
Like? No like? Please review!
Stay tuned, more along the way!